Sir, - While I might cringe at the playing of Ireland's Call before international rugby games, I do not share Ben Headon's "shame" (September 26th). It's just not a great tune - or, at least, it has not been impaled in our collective subconscious long enough for us to think it's a great tune.
However, Mr Headon is being somewhat simplistic in his assertion that we have a perfectly good national anthem and should just use it. Rugby is one of the few activities in which the whole island of Ireland, embracing all traditions, is represented as one unit. It would be the height of surliness to expect that the 15 rugby players in green shirts, and all their gathered supporters, should be expected to describe themselves, one and all, as Soldiers of Destiny.
Given the pedestrian rate at which things are progressing in the North right now, I'd settle for everyone just talking to each other, never mind singing and dancing to the same tune. - Yours, etc.,
Neil Collins, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England.